Stalwart Castle Remains

The Alphabet Network announced today that Castle, starring Nathan Fillion, has been renewed for a full season (22 episodes). Castle is not only doing well, its ratings continued climbing this season, leading to Monday night's episode, the last of the season, which hit a record 14.5 million.

Not only was this Castle's highest rated episode yet, it also set the record as ABC's highest-rated scripted show in 14 years!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Nemesis #1 - Reprint Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Pres. Obama Seen Buying Star Wars Book

President Obama was seen buying a copy of Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy in an Iowa bookstore, reportedly for White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs' son. This is the story the media does not want you to hear!

Actually, I just think it's cool as hell that our President is a geek. His love of Spidey and Conan the Barbarian is well-documented, so his Star Wars purchase should come as no surprise. The real question is: Was it really for Gibbs' son? C'mon, Mr. President - you're the President of the United freaking United States now; you don't need a cover story!


© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Skeptics to Raise Money for Childhood ImmunizGen Con

Indianapolis (3-26-10) - The Skeptical Gamers and The Lafayette Skeptics will be raising funds for the Indiana Immunization Coalition at Gen Con Indy 2010.

The Skeptical Gamers will have a booth in the Family Fun Pavilion. Some members will perform amateur magic tricks and feats of mentalism in exchange for donations. All proceeds from the booth go to the Indiana Immunization Coalition. Volunteers at the booth will also hand out educational pamphlets and try to raise awareness about immunization.

Lead organizer, Don Riefler, said, "Indiana's childhood immunization rate is as low as 70% in some parts of the state, due mostly to poor public health education. With the funds we raise, the Indiana Immunization Coalition will spearhead a new educational initiative to help correct this deficit and stop the resurgence of preventable childhood diseases like measles and mumps, as we have seen in the UK and the Bronx."

In additional to fundraising, The Skeptical Gamers will make presentations throughout Gen Con Indy on subjects such as cryptozoology, archaeology, building local skeptical communities, and financial scams. Presenters include Jen Meyers from skepchick.org; Illinois-based educator, Tom Foss; organizer, Dan Riefler; and podcaster, Colin Thornton.

"We're a group of regular folks, all passionate about science and rational thinking, and we hope to impress that passion upon some of the people at Gen Con Indy," said Riefler.

Gen Con Indy 2010 will be held at the Indiana Convention Center from August 5-8^th. Gen Con is one of the oldest and largest gaming conventions in the world. Registration is now open.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

RIP: Jaime Escalante

Jaime Escalante was a pioneering Math teacher who chose to work with inner city students in one of Los Angeles' toughest schools. Escalante did so well, Garfield High eventually had more students studying Advanced Calculus than all other schools in America, save three (it was fourth... with your math skills). Garfield eventually built one of the the largest and most successful Advanced Placement programs in America.

Jaime Escalante's students were largely Hispanic because they were the majority at Garfield High School, but he became an inspiration to students across the country. Escalante's influence was so strong, he became the subject of a 1988 movie entitled Stand and Deliver. Edward James Olmos portrayed the Bolivian immigrant, and the movie was a hit with both audiences and critics alike.

But Escalante did not have many fans amongst his peers or the parents of his students. He was a stickler for the rules, and his manner was brash, confrontational, and often rude. He even became a pariah amongst the Hispanic population when he opposed bilingual education. The fallout from his stance on this controversial issue lead to his leaving Garfield and teaching at another school for several years before he retired.

Escalante was 79. He died in Reno, Nevada, where he was being treated for bladder cancer.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am in Avengers Academy

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics Shipping 03-31-10

Can you believe it's already that time again? Here it is: The weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics hitting newsstands tomorrow, March 31st, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #627 (GNTLT)
CLOAK AND DAGGER #1
DARK WOLVERINE #84 (S)
DOOMWAR #1 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT
FANTASTIC FOUR #577
INCREDIBLE HULK #607 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (FOTHS)
MARVEL PREVIEWS #80
NEW MUTANTS #11
PRELUDE TO DEADPOOL CORPS #5
PUNISHER #15
PUNISHER MAX MGC #1
REALM OF KINGS: INHUMANS #5
SHE-HULK: SENSATIONAL
THUNDERBOLTS #141 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (S)
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #46
X-FORCE #25 (XN)
X-FORCE #25 CRAIN VARIANT (XN)
X-MEN FOREVER #20
X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1
X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 FINCH VARIANT

Collections On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BY JMS ULTIMATE COLLECTION: BOOK 3 TPB
CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER ULTIMATE COLLECTION TPB
ESSENTIAL RAMPAGING HULK VOL. 2 TPB
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3: WAR OF KINGS BOOK 2 TPB
IRON MAN & THE ARMOR WARS GN-TPB
IRON MAN: EXTREMIS HC MOVIE COVER
IRON MAN: EXTREMIS GRANOV COVER
IRON MAN: I AM IRON MAN! TPB
IRON MAN: TALES OF THE GOLDEN AVENGER GN-TPB
NOMAD: GIRL WITHOUT A WORLD GN-TPB
OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE A TO Z VOL. 13 PREMIERE HC
>SPIDER-MAN: THE COMPLETE CLONE SAGA EPIC BOOK 1 TPB
SPIN ANGELS PREMIERE HC
WOLVERINE ORIGINS: ROMULUS TPB

Posters On-Sale:
SIEGE BY JOE QUESADA POSTER
WOMEN OF MARVEL POSTER

*FOTHS = Fall of The Hulks tie-in
*GNTLT = Amazing Spider-Man: The Gauntlet tie-in
*S = SIEGE tie-in
*XN = X-Necrosha tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Uncanny X-Men #523 - Iron Man Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

TekWar Chronicles: Plague of Ghosts TPB

Fans of William Shatner's multimedia TekWar franchise can now add the first volume of Bluewater Production's comic book adaptation of the seminal series to their collection:

TekWar Chronicles: Plague of Ghosts, a graphic novel containing the first four issues of Bluewater Productions' series of William Shatner's TekWar novels is currently available at several outlets including Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and local comic book shops across the country.

TekWar Chronicles: Plague of Ghosts, which has recently been nominated for Best Celebrity-Created comic by Comicpalooza, is loosely based on the original 1989 novel, which centers on a disgraced, former police officer of the 22^nd-Century, who is mysteriously released from prison for a crime he is certain he did not commit. Finding himself lost in a world that has changed dramatically since his incarceration, Jake Cardigan tries to put his life back together only to be lured back into the dark world of a digital drug called Tek.

"Revisiting the world of Tek has been very gratifying," said entertainment icon, William Shatner. "The first few novels were written [before the advent of] the Internet; before we knew what a cyberworld was. In this refreshed version, we updated the vision of the future and the technology. And we got to further explore themes like revenge, redemption, and what it means to be human. But, at the core, it's still an exciting action-mystery romp."

The book, which contains a complete story arc, includes the 12-page prologue originally published as a promotional give-away for Free Comic Book Day last May. It also includes all the alternate covers of the first four issues and a foreword by Shatner.

Co-written with Bluewater veteran scribe, Scott Davis, and illustrated by Erich Owen, the 108-page novel is considerably darker and grittier than the original novels.

"The book is not only for people who enjoyed the TekWar novels and TV series," said Davis, "But whether you call it an adaptation, a reboot, or a re-imagination, what readers will find is enough of the source material to make it very recognizable, and enough new turns and twists to keep everyone guessing."

TekWar Chronicles is a continuing monthly series published through Bluewater. Early next year, Bluewater will publish two other titles based on Shatner novels (Quest for Tomorrow and Man O' War) and a brand new original concept developed by the actor specifically for Bluewater (Chimera).

The suggested retail price (SRP) for the upcoming trade paperback is $15.99.
(ISBN #: 9781427642295).

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Man of Action (Ben 10, Generator Rex) to Appear with Image @ Wondercon 2010

Berkeley, CA - 29 March 2010 - MAN OF ACTION, the creative collective behind the animated series, BEN 10, and the upcoming Cartoon Network series, GENERATOR REX, will be joining Image Comics for WonderCon 2010!

All four members of MAN OF ACTION - Joe Casey, Steve Seagle, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Kelly - can be found at the Image Comics booth (#407) throughout the show. In addition, they will make several, exclusive announcements concerning upcoming MoA projects to be published through Image.

"We're psyched to attend WonderCon -- all four Man of Action partners under one roof -- and we're looking forward to seeing everyone while we're camped out at the Image booth all weekend," says Joe Casey. "Let the madness begin!"

Individually, the partners of Man of Action have written, worked on, or developed various popular comic book titles for Image, DC Comics, and Marvel. Their creation of the mega-popular BEN 10 animated series has led directly to the new GENERATOR REX show, which is based on Image Comics' M. REX. Generator Rex debuts in late April on Cartoon Network.

Don't miss your chance to see all four members of Man of Action - Joe Casey, Steve Seagle, Duncan Rouleau, and Joe Kelly - at Image Comics booth #407 during WonderCon 2010!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ricky Martin Comes Out of the Closet - Rundown SHOCKED!

International music sensation, Ricky Martin, revealed his homosexuality to the world via a post on his website earlier today. Martin's sexual preference has been the butt of many jokes over the years - most of which are better than that one - so his announcement ends years of speculation by... well, every, living thing in the known universe.

Martin, who initially rose to fame as a member of the international boy-band, Menudo, said revealing his sexuality to his fans, "...fills me with strength and courage. Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment."

Martin is a Grammy-award winning singer whose first English single, Living la vida Loca, climbed to #1 on music charts around the world - including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Japan, Mexico, and many, many more. Ricky Martin has sold over 60 million albums worldwide; played the lead in Les Miserables on Broadway; landed a recurring role on daytime soap opera, General Hospital; started his own non-profit organization to benefit efforts to end child trafficking, as well as other charitable efforts; and has been named one of the most beautiful people in the world by People magazine - twice!

And Ricky Martin is gay.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Political Power: Al Franken

It's hard to remember, but there was a time when Al Franken was just another comic and writer. Today, he is a rising political star, set to become the latest subject in Bluewater Productions' Political Power line of biography comics. Political Power: Al Franken will be released to comic shops across the country in May, 2009.

Writer, Jerome Maida, said the biographical comic book introduces readers to sides of Franken's character few knew he possesses. "Al Franken has this reputation - not completely unfounded, if you read the comic - as a metaphorical bomb-thrower: A guy who hates his enemies and has an in-your-face style," Maida said. "While I did find some stuff that would support that perception, I also found out a lot more interesting stuff that makes him a real person - a character instead of a caricature."

Maida discovered that Franken fell in love with politics at a young age, for instance. He also discovered that Franken co-wrote the powerful film, When a Man Loves a Woman, based on his wife's alcoholism.

Franken made history in 2008, when he defeated Republican incumbent, Norm Coleman, to become the junior U.S. Senator from Minnesota - but this victory did not come easily. The race was decided by a razor-thin margin, and Franken's opponent called for a recount. Several appeals were filed over the next eight months, which took the case all the way to the Minnesota Supreme Court, where they ruled in Franken's favor. He was finally sworn in on July 7^th, 2009, but only after Coleman declined to take the case further (to the U.S. Supreme Court), and conceded.

Political Power: Al Franken traces his rise from Saturday Night Live writer, a position he often used to skewer politicians, to radio talk show host, to viable Senate candidate, to controversial Minnesota Senator.

Bluewater's Political Power has attracted mainstream publicity and generated strong sales in a declining comic book market. The goal of these biography comics is simple: Tell moving stories of politically powerful individuals in an evenhanded and balanced way.

"At a time [when] comic book readership continues to decline, our Political Power books continue to bring new readers to the graphic medium," said Darren G. Davis, president of Bluewater Productions. "I'm proud of that. And I think our readers will find that Jerome has crafted a compelling tale in Political Power: Al Franken."

Political Power: Al Franken retails for $3.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

E!'s Annual SOS

It's time once again for E!'s "S.O.S.," or "Save Our Show." The rules up to now have been pretty straightforward: Go to the page, vote for the show you want to "save" from cancellation, and hope and pray. This year, the rules are slightly different: E! wants you to friend them on Facebook and follow their tweets, as they are going to narrow the field to the top five contenders, then allow for a "wildcard."

On April 5^th (next Monday), the Top Five will be announced, along with the rules for voting-in a "Twitter Wildcard." On Wednesday (April 7^th), the Twitter Wildcard will be announced and added to the short-list of contenders. Finally, on Friday, April 12^th, the winner will be announced on E! News, Daily 10, and (of course) online.

There are 20 entries, including several surprises (to me, anyway) and several shows I've never even heard of (Accidentally on Purpose?). I thought Castle was a big hit - hell, I know it was a big hit - but apparently, its ratings have been sliding. However, ABC is showing it at least twice a week, so those ratings aren't accurate. Those numbers also fail to include viewers, like myself, who watch it on Hulu. Castle is a great show - truly one of the better things on network TV - and it's still performing pretty well, despite a slight dip in the numbers.

V also got off to a strong start, unfortunately ABC did with it what it does with all of its sci-fi/Lost-type shows: Quickly stalled-out. As one infrequent viewer said, "It started off great, then went nowhere." But V is an excellent follow-up to the original, which holds-up very well, and if ABC gives it even half the chance they've given the inferior FlashForward, they might actually have more than just another hit on their hands - the first V is a classic, by any standard, and if this remake can come anywhere near the original's quality and passion, it may well become a classic in its own right.

Both of these are ABC shows, both were affected by the Olympics, and though Castle continued with new shows, V was put on hiatus until the games ended. Now that the Winter Games are over, it's going to take a few weeks for viewers to find these shows again. In the case of Castle, they may be confused as to which night it actually runs; new episodes of Castle air on Monday nights at 9pm, CST, and reruns on Friday nights at the same time. I may be wrong, but it may air on other nights at 9:00/10:00p EST, as well. V airs Tuesdays at 9pm, CST, following DWTS and Lost and both are available on Hulu.

Now: If you aren't watching Chuck, WTF is wrong with you!? If I had to rank the top three network TV shows, it would look like this:

1. Supernatural
2. Chuck
3. Castle

Burn Notice deserves to be on this list, but it's not a basic network TV show and is in absolutely no danger of being canceled. Supernatural is already renewed for a sixth season, so that leaves only Chuck, Castle, and V. Of the three, Chuck is the most likely to be canceled. But (he said hopefully) I think Chuck has a guardian angel; someone at NBC likes it - whomever that incredibly attractive, fiercely intelligent, person may be - and recognizes Chuck's brilliance, and most fans (including myself) think it's going to be renewed, despite its lackluster Nielsen numbers.

As much as I love Castle and V, I really don't think we need to worry about them - at least not yet. Their ratings may have slipped a bit, but everyone's just now getting back to their regular TV-viewing, which was interrupted by the Olympics. V needs some votes, but Chuck is the show for which I am most concerned. Follow the links throughout the post to watch clips and full episodes.

Chuck is truly one of the better shows on TV these days, and I'm really not sure why more people haven't latched-on to it. It's become a cult hit amongst the Nerdery, as well as the dread Hipster crowd, and while that's okay (and definitely Chuck's target audience), Chuck is a lot like Buffy the Vampire Slayer in that it transcends genre; there's something for everyone on Chuck, but few know it because they're too busy watching House, which quit being interesting like three years ago!

Anyway, go vote!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

RIP: Joe Sarno

Comic book collector and retailing pioneer, and founding father of the Chicago Comic-Con, Joe Sarno, died on March 18^th after a prolonged illness. Sarno was a mentor to many Chicago-area comic book and pop-culture fans, and helped found the Fantasy Collectors of Chicago - a small club of local enthusiasts who met monthly in Sarno's basement to swap comics, watch TV shows and movie serials, and discuss science fiction, comic books, and pop-culture.

In 1971, Joe Sarno's basement became one of the first direct markets under the banner of The Fantasy Shop. In 1973, Sarno relocated and renamed his store The Nostalgia Shop, which became the first store anywhere to sell sports cards to the general public, and was also one of the first to produce its own newsletter which also contained a fantasy trading-card set. By 1980, Sarno's business had grown to include two locations, and the name was officially changed to Comic Kingdom. Comic Kingdom continued selling comic books, RPG, toys, ball cards, and pop-culture collectibles until 2003, when the soft market and Sarno's failing health forced him to close-up shop and move his operations online.

Chicago had a very active sci-fi and pop-culture community in the '60s and '70s, having hosted the World Science Fiction Convention three times by 1962, as well as being home to no fewer than four area "nostalgia" conventions. In 1976, Sarno took over the Chicago Comic-Con, which he oversaw for several years. It has since been sold to Wizard, but Sarno was a permanent fixture at the annual convention until his last appearance in 2009.

Joe Sarno was 71 and is survived by his wife, three children, and hundreds of comics fans, collectors, and creators whose lives he touched. Our condolences go out to all. A special tribute to Joe Sarno will be held at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) on April 17^th at 12:15pm.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am a Secret Avenger!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

RIP: Dick Giordano

Dick Giordano, prolific comic book artist and former editor-in-chief of Charlton Comics, died Saturday morning at age 77. Giordano's career in the comics industry began in 1951 at Charlton Comics. Over the course of it, he would work at most of the major publishing houses in the industry, including Marvel, DC, Dell, and others. He would also serve as Editor-in-Chief of Charlton, overseeing the creation of some of their most lucrative properties, including the Blue Beetle, and VP/Executive Editorial Director of DC, where he oversaw the production of such projects as The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen.

Giordano was also known for finding great talent, such as John Byrne, Howard Chaykin, Walt Simonson, and many more. Dick Giordano and Neal Adams co-founded Continuity Associates, known mainly as an art packager (though the company has done everything from movie storyboards to computer-aided designs), which gave many of these big names their first real break. He also founded Dik-Art, Inc., which he managed up to his death, Future Comics, and the multimedia company, Future Entertainment, and served on the Hero Initative's board of directors.

Giordano officially retired in 1983, though he continued writing and drawing and contributed to works sporadically until his death. Many of the industry's leading executives and personalities issued kind words on his passing.

Our deepest condolences go out to Dick Giordano's surviving friends and family.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Jack Bauer's Day Is Over

Fox has canceled its most successful drama ever: 24 is ending after the current season. Ratings for the acclaimed action/adventure show slipped this, its eighth, season. The two-hour series finale airs May 24^th and to celebrate, Fox will air 11 hours of uninterrupted episodes on Monday nights. Star, Keifer Sutherland, called Jack Bauer "The role of a lifetime," and thanked fans, cast, and crew for making it possible. "I am eternally grateful," Sutherland said in a statement. He said the decision to end 24 "on a high note" was mutually decided upon by all involved.

24 earned a whopping 68 Emmy nominations, winning Best Drama in 2006. Sutherland won Best Actor for the show once, but was nominated seven times. At the end of the season, it will have aired 194 episodes, officially making it one of TV's longest-running action series.

Next up for Sutherland? A big-screen movie adaptation of 24.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Claw & Fang - A Review

Claw & Fang from Bluewater Comics streets this April. It is written by Michael Kutcher and drawn (well) by Matias Basla. The Rundown receives media for free for the purposes of review, but does not let this affect our reviews (we're pretty rough, usually); The Weirding is (barely) supported by advertisers, not studios or companies with any stake in the entertainment industry.

Let me start by saying that Claw & Fang is not a bad read, but it is done no favors by the weakness of the writing. Many of the current crop of comics writers are actually trying to use it as a springboard to a "more lucrative" entertainment career in other fields (namely Hollywood), which is as amusing as it is heartbreaking, because we comics fans are forced to suffer the kind of schlock, shit writing that should be reserved for independent films about gay relationships and hipster zombies - the kind your friend, who thinks he actually has a "career" makes with his equally untalented buddies, whom he pays in beer and bud, between shifts at Arby's, then forces you to watch when you're in too good a mood to say no. Ironically (well, maybe not), this project is actually written by established filmmaker, Michael Kutcher.

I may be in a bit of a bad mood, but I’m just tired of reading shit. Claw & Fang certainly isn’t as bad as a lot of the crap out there, but the writing actually insulted me. I’m not going to storm the box office (I got it free, after all), but I’m not sure I’d stick around for the second issue.

Scripting comics is far different from screenwriting, even though the two have many commonalities, and Kutcher obviously didn't take much time to research the medium before penning this work. I can let him slide to some degree because it's his debut, and Claw & Fang appears to have been done The Marvel Way (dialogue added after the artwork was completed) and I know he wasn't ready for that. With all due respect, if Claw & Fang was fully-scripted before the artwork was submitted, then it's simply a poor job.

I can't make my point clearly enough, so I'll restate it yet again: The sequential art medium is a medium unto itself. While it is very similar to other forms - film being the most obvious and similar - it is not "just like" any other medium (but with pictures, but with words, but with superheroes, et.al.). That said, we'll get into the finer points of the writing shortly, but Claw & Fang's saving grace is the artwork, which - though not without its own faults - is simply brilliant.

Sketchy, moody, evocative, most of the story could have been told by the artwork alone - maybe that’s why I’m so put-out with the writing - but its major flaw is in the action sequences. Tightly-paneled pages do suggest action, but only to a point; comics pages, like all art, rely on a bit of everything to convey their meaning, and paneling is only one aspect - albeit an important one. Most artists have only the single plane with which to work - landscape or portrait - so paneling, when properly used, can be an incredibly effective tool. While Basla seems to understand this, he either lacks the experience or fundamental connection to the concept to effectively harness it.

His layouts are actually very good, but - viewing the page as a piece - he seems to be missing the point of paneling in the first place: His paneling is composed in relation to the larger page, so there is a balance and harmony to every page, but the panels themselves are not approached as individual scenes. Basla has to forsake the page as the plane and focus on the panels and sequencing.

What defeats Basla’s panels are their centers of interest, which are simply confusing. The composition (of both panel and page) is always pleasant, but it’s hard to tell what’s happening, or to whom. One of the biggest challenges facing comic book artists is this very thing: How to not only tell a story, but tell it pleasingly - making every panel an individual picture plane in which its intent is clearly communicated - and each plane has to come together cohesively to communicate the actual story. It's what makes sequential art so much more difficult than traditional work - even illustration: Everything is a smaller piece of the larger puzzle, yet each piece demands total focus. Basla manages to convey the story, but more abstractly than most readers are willing to accept - including this one; it's sometimes a tough call, but story has to supersede artistic merit in sequential art, because that is the basis of the form.

Dialogue placement is nice, though; Claw & Fang is actually the first comic book I’ve read in the last year or so that didn’t have at least one confusing chain of direction. And as for overall quality, style, and design, Basla’s work on Claw & Fang flat-out rocks! I actually felt physically excited by some of the panels and spent a great deal of time simply enjoying his work - again, something I’ve done far too infrequently the last few years (with the exception of the work done by Land [Uncanny X-Men] and Coipel [Thor]).

The writing? ...

Let me preface this by admitting I got little sleep this week and Claw & Fang had the misfortune of being just the latest in a string of similarly guilty comic books, as far as my criticism of the writing goes, so I suppose I owe Kutcher an apology for what I’m about about to say (unless he's somehow related to Ashton Kutcher), because it isn’t very flattering. But, for what it’s worth, it’s only criticism and I hope he takes it to heart and uses it to strengthen his future work:

What is wrong with modern comic book writers? I can’t think of a single one who writes better than the accompanying artist draws, so why can’t any of them just STFU and let the art carry the story? Maybe there really is a generation of ADHD kids out there - the question is are they writing comics for these kids to read, or are they the ones writing comics?

The accompanying is page nine: Every, single, thing said on this page has been established earlier - all of it - so why is it being repeated? Absolutely every, singular word on this page could have - and should have been - excised. Not only would it have made for a better progression, both artistically and from a reader's perspective, it would have strengthened mood, atmosphere, and created tension. Basla's work alone successfully grants Claw & Fang the proper mood and atmosphere, but neither creator manages to create anything resembling tension.

See, that’s what comic books do: They literally "Show, not tell," so we don’t need to be informed as to what we are seeing. (Strictly speaking though, it would have been helpful in all of Claw & Fang #1's action scenes.) Kutcher - and everyone else - needs to stop illuminating the obvious and either let the art do its thing, or engage the reader with characterization, plot development, story insight - something not directly connected to the action literally taking place.

The following is page 10, which is a masterpiece compared to the preceding page, and indicative of the quality of which this creative team is capable. Unfortunately, the quality on page nine comprises the brunt of Claw & Fang #1. Still, the entire work would be at least three times stronger, had Justin's dialogue ("Work sucked") started the exchange. The artistic interpretation of the online exchanges are particularly inspired. But reading the first two blurbs - again, information already established - is slightly insulting and makes you want to rush through the page (we already know this!).

Even beyond this - all too common, these days - error in judgment, the writing is simply amateurish throughout most of the issue. It certainly isn't the worst debut I've read, but it's not up to snuff for work from a major house like Bluewater. The plot could have been sent by telegraph and would have surprised me more, so all the posturing and attempts at concealing the characters and concept did nothing to increase the tension or draw me into the story - it was just padding.

While Claw & Fang is worth the admission for the art alone, and this is only the first issue, this story would have been more effective as a one-shot. The confusing panelwork and belaboring of the obvious kill any attempts at pacing, and by the end of the first issue, I already know the plot (an 8-year old would know the plot by around page five), yet I have no idea what is going on, nor whom any of the characters are, so I've absolutely no connection to any of it!

This is, again, Kutcher's first work in the medium, so the guy has to get his feet wet; it isn't a total Fail, but it's lacking. He does show flares of inspiration though, and his exchanges (dialogue between characters) are strong, so I expect his work to improve - both in later issues, as well as in general (should he choose to pursue more work in the field). Maybe that is what frustrated me about Claw & Fang #1: I expect better from Kutcher, because those brief moments prove he's capable of delivering.

Were it not for Basla’s jaw-dropping artwork, I would not stick around for #2, but all things considered, I’ve certainly read worse lately! Hell, I've read worse from established writers whom I know are good, so all is not lost. Both Kutcher and Basla need to research their craft (that is, buy a shitload of good comics) and commit to bringing their A-Game, and Claw & Fang could feasibly become a fun read with a slow start.

Recommended - if you can afford another comic book next month, or are an artist.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ebert Looking to Produce New Critics' Show

Though At the Movies was officially canceled earlier this week, former castmember and founding partner of the show, Roger Ebert, believes there is still a market for such a show. He wrote on his blog that he and his wife are looking to produce a new version of the show. He will not appear regularly, but he did say "the thumbs will return."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am in Avengers Academy

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Dark Wolverine #85 - Iron Man Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Iron Man: Extremis - Available Elsewhere!

New York, NY (March 25, 2010)—Marvel Knights Animation is proud to announce their newest motion comic epic: Iron Man: Extremis, available April 16^th! Adapting the critically-acclaimed storyline by superstars Warren Ellis and Adi Granov, Tony Stark (AKA Iron Man) faces his greatest threat ever—a terrorist transformed into an unstoppable force with the powerful bio-engineered Extremis super-soldier serum! Now Tony Stark redefines Iron Man’s mission for the 21^st century, setting the Armored Avenger on a new direction that’ll alter his life forever…if he can find a way to defeat a modern day nightmare!

Featuring groundbreaking animation and special effects never before seen in a motion comic, Iron Man: Extremis will leave your jaws on the floor! Each of the six episodes are only $1.99, with an extra-sized premiere running nearly 20 minutes, and a can’t-miss season pass priced at $9.99! Iron Man: Extremis will be available for download on iTunes, Zune, and Xbox, with new episodes available bi-weekly through June.

"Iron Man: Extremis is one of the pre-eminent Iron Man stories, thanks to the amazing work of Warren Ellis and Adi Granov," explained Marvel Editor-In-Chief, Joe Quesada. "Just as the Iron Man: Extremis comic book forever changed how we see Iron Man, the motion comic adaptation represents the next evolution of the medium."

The worldwide leader in bringing super heroes to life, Marvel redefined the motion comic medium with their first two releases—Spider-Woman (from Brian Bendis & Alex Maleev) and Astonishing X-Men (from Joss Whedon & John Cassaday). Staying true to their source material, Marvel Motion Comics utilize each story’s original art and scripts while adding seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects to deliver a whole new way to experience some of the greatest storylines in Marvel Comics’ history.

"Having the chance to work on something created by Adi and Warren has been a dream come true," exclaims Ruwan Jayatilleke, Marvel Senior Vice President, Development & Planning, Print, Animation and Digital Media explained, "As the lead producer on this motion comic, I am thrilled with all the effort and energy that Magnetic Dreams, Edge Studio, Underground Music, and NYAV have thrown into this project—creating an incredibly compelling series of animated content! I don’t want to give away any of the surprises, but once you see Tony Stark suit up and Iron Man take flight, you’ll know just why I am so excited."

Get your first look at the Iron Man: Extremis right now.

Please note that Iron Man: Extremis is intended for mature audiences only.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Choker #2 - 2nd-Printing

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Dark Horse C2E2 Domo Exclusive

MARCH 4, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse Deluxe, the product arm of Dark Horse Comics, has announced a special exclusive variant in their popular line of toys based on fashion and viral superstar Domo. The Domo Qee figure is unique to the Hong Kong–based toy company Toy2R and has been a massive hit since the line was launched in 2009.

The debut Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) will be held at McCormick Place, located at 2301 South Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois. Dates are April 16–18, 2010.

The convention exclusive features Domo covered with a Hawaiian-style print, setting it apart from previously released figures in the series. Only 1,200 of this special variant have been manufactured, and they will be made available to both casual fans and collectors at the Dark Horse Comics booth in the exhibit hall on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We made a Domo Qee exclusive for Comic-Con International in San Diego last summer,” Dark Horse’s vice president of product development, David Scroggy, recalled. “We were surprised to find it had sold-out by the end of the first day of the show. We made even fewer of them this time around, and as this promises to be a very well-attended first-time event, we advise attendees to drop by early if they are interested in owning one.”

The release of the C2E2 variant closely follows the on-sale date of the second “mystery box” series of Domo Qee toys, which are scheduled for release on March 31, 2010. This “blind-box” assortment features figures individually packed at random. The only way to know which is inside is to purchase it! In the Domo blind-box assortment, figures are sold in counter displays of fifteen, and each display box of fifteen figures is packed into a master carton of four cases.

The special 2" version of the lovable mascot turned iconic viral superstar from Japan’s NHK television network is growing in popularity in the United States. Dark Horse was an early licensee of Domo, under the auspices of licensing agency Big Tent Entertainment, and has already produced sold-out limited editions of Domo as various sizes and colors of flocked vinyl figures, stationery, journals, and sculpted magnets. Party lights, sticky note books, and other new Domo items are on tap for summer.

Starting from a very unusual place as an advertising icon, Domo’s unique look and personality have catapulted the character from four hundred television spots in Japan into one of the Internet’s biggest sensations, sparking worldwide recognition. As the poster child for personalized, user-generated content, Domo has been able to transition from popularity within Japan to a worldwide following, spawning countless fan-made images, websites, and videos, along with a first-ever licensed product line including plush, toys, fashion, and collectibles selling at major trend retailers nationwide.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Dangit!

So sorry for the delay here, guys. I am actually working on some other projects, but I have the Iron Man Extremis Motion Comic Trailer to post... it just isn't loading! I had it uploading for going on two hours now and it only took like 10 minutes to download.

I'm going to reboot and try it again, but in case there are further problems, you know it is out there.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am in Avengers Academy

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Scrubs... Scrubbed?

Zach Braff tweeted that ABC's new Scrubs - "Scrubs 2.0," he called it - is canceled, but series creator, Bill Lawrence clarified that there has been no official word, as yet. This news broke early this morning across mainstream outlets, but because ABC has yet to confirm or deny the cancellation, I was hoping there would be some clarification before the day was over.

As of right now though, it appears that Scrubs has been canceled.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Warner Bros. Props-Up Blockbuster

Despite having closed some 1000 stores across the country and publicly considering bankruptcy since 2008-2009, Warner Brothers - which recently levied a 28-day new release embargo on Netflix customers - has now signed a deal with Blockbuster, guaranteeing the dying giant same-day new releases. This means Blockbuster will be the only major movie rental outlet to carry Warner Bros. new releases the day they street.

Like almost everyone else in the free world, I am a Netflix subscriber. I last had a Blockbuster account in 1994 or so. I'm not 100% certain, but there might be a Blockbuster about 30-40 miles from here.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The REAL Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Paramount Options Existence 2.0

Berkeley, CA - 22 March 2010 - Miles Millar and Alfred Gough -- the team behind The WB's eternally popular SMALLVILLE -- are adapting EXISTENCE 2.0 for the big screen. Michael Bay, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller's Platinum Dunes is set to produce, along with Circle of Confusion's David Alpert.

EXISTENCE 2.0 is a three-issue miniseries published by Image Comics. Written by Nick Spencer (Forgetless, Shuddertown) and drawn by Ronald Salas, the series focuses on self-absorbed physicist, Sylvester Baladine. After Baladine's assassination, he finds his consciousness transferred to the body of the hitman who killed him. Things don't seem so bad until the people who "killed" Baladine kidnap his daughter. Baladine is forced to dig up his past to solve his own murder, making himself a target once more.

"EXISTENCE 2.0 is a cinematic book, so translation to the screen is only natural," explains Shadowline Publisher Jim Valentino. "We're excited to see this critically acclaimed title make the leap from page to screen, and the adaptation couldn't be in better hands."

EXISTENCE 2.0 will be collected with its four-issue sequel, EXISTENCE 3.0, in trade paperback and made available in August 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvelman Returns in June

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Avengers' Day: May 19

The Earth’s Mightiest Retailers assemble on May 19^th for the inaugural, first-annual, Avengers Day! This historic event marks an all new era for Marvel’s greatest heroes, as the Avengers come together to usher in The Heroic Age. Mark your calendars and be the first person on your block to score great Avengers Day commemorative items like exclusive, limited-edition prints featuring John Romita Jr.’s “I Am An Avenger” images, door hangers, mini-posters, and more! Plus, fans can’t miss the chance to add their own heroes to the Avengers roster by sketching on the Avengers #1 I Am An Avenger Blank Variant and purchase the stunning Avengers Poster by John Romita Jr!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ultimate X Third-Printing Sketch Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Marvel Comics Shipping 03-24-10

Here is your weekly Rundown of Marvel Comics hitting shelves tomorrow, March, 24^th, 2010:

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #626
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #34 (S)
BREAKING INTO COMICS THE MARVEL WAY! #2
CAPTAIN AMERICA #604
DEADPOOL #21
DEADPOOL CORPS: RANK AND FOUL #1
FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #3
HALO: BLOOD LINE #4
MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #61
MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 (S)
MILLAR & MCNIVEN'S NEMESIS #1
MILLAR & MCNIVEN'S NEMESIS #1 YU VARIANT
NEW AVENGERS #63 (S)
PETER PARKER #1 (MDCU)
PRELUDE TO DEADPOOL CORPS #4
SECRET WARRIORS #14
TALES OF THE DRAGON GUARD #2
THE MARVELS PROJECT #7 EPTING COVER
THE MARVELS PROJECT #7 MCNIVEN COVER
THE MARVELS PROJECT #7 PAREL VARIANT
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #5
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #5 PERKINS VARIANT
THOR #608 (S)
THOR MGC #1
THUNDERBOLTS #142 (S)
UNCANNY X-MEN #522
UNCANNY X-MEN #522 KITTY PRYDE RETURNS VARIANT
X-FACTOR #203
X-MEN ORIGINS: NIGHTCRAWLER #1

Collections On-Sale:
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE - DREAMS & NIGHTMARES PREMIERE HC
BLACK WIDOW: WEB OF INTRIGUE PREMIERE HC
BLACK WIDOW: WEB OF INTRIGUE PREMIERE HC (DM ONLY)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN PREMIERE HC
CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN PREMIERE HC QUESADA VARIANT (DM ONLY)
DAREDEVIL/ECHO: PARTS OF A HOLE PREMIERE HC
DEADPOOL: SUICIDE KINGS TPB
ENDER'S SHADOW: COMMAND SCHOOL PREMIERE HC
IRON MAN: OFFICIAL INDEX TO THE MARVEL UNIVERSE GN-TPB
MARVEL ADVENTURES IRON MAN/SPIDER-MAN DIGEST
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH VOL. 3 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA TALES TO ASTONISH VOL. 3 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL. 1 TPB
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL. 1 TPB VARIANT (DM ONLY)
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE X-MEN VOL. 8 HC
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE X-MEN VOL. 8 HC VARIANT (DM ONLY)
RIFTWAR PREMIERE HC
RUNAWAYS: HOMESCHOOLING TPB
SUPER HERO SQUAD: GET YER HERO ON DIGEST
THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY HC COIPEL COVER
THOR: TALES OF ASGARD BY STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY HC KIRBY COVER (DM ONLY)
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER PARKER PREMIERE HC
X-FORCE VOL. 3: NOT FORGOTTEN TPB
X-MEN: PRELUDE TO ONSLAUGHT TPB

*FOTHS = Fall of The Hulks tie-in
*GNTLT = Amazing Spider-Man: The Gauntlet tie-in
*S = SIEGE tie-in
*XN = X-Necrosha tie-in

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Who Are the Guardians of the Globe?

Berkeley CA - 19 March 2010 - Invincible is off fighting the Viltrumite War, so who's watching the shop while he's away? GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE, a new six-issue miniseries coinciding with INVINCIBLE: The Viltrumite War, tells Earth's story.

In GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE -- cowritten by superstar Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead, The Astounding Wolf-Man) and Benito Cereno (Invincible Presents: Atom Eve, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve & Rex Splode) and drawn by gifted newcomer, Ransom Getty -- heroes, both familiar and new, struggle to protect Earth in Invincible's absence.

"Needless to say, Invincible, Spawn, Rick Grimes, President Obama, and a certain boy wizard aren't GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE," jokes Robert Kirkman. "The teasers released this week have been all in fun, but next week's teasers will get down to business, revealing who's a Guardian. Invincible's absence due to the Viltrumite War has left people vulnerable, and GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE will answer the question, 'What's up on Earth?'"

Tune-in to find out who protects Earth while Invincible is away as the GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE teasers continue!

GUARDIANS OF THE GLOBE, a six-issue miniseries written by Robert Kirkman and Benito Cereno and drawn by Ransom Getty, will start its run in August 2010.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am in Avengers Academy

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Mike Meyers Signs to Austin Powers 4

Mike Meyers has signed-on to do a new Austin Powers sequel. According to original director, Jay Roach, who is admittedly "good" with the project, Meyers is already working on ideas and culling stars. There is no word on the actual deal, projected filming dates, or release as of this time.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ghostbusters III Directorial Issues

I guess we all knew it was too good to be true - well, too good to forge ahead without some setback(s), at least: Columbia Pictures apparently wants a youngert director for the upcoming Ghostbusters III. But Ivan Reitman's "people" may have foreseen this, as his contract apparently contains a clause giving him a hefty amount of creative control. The contract was closed back in the '80s, and sources say that while Reitman can't legally force the studio to make the sequel with him, he can pretty much quash any attempts to make it without him. In fact, all three principles have a similar clause; if any of the four disagree with the direction of the new film, they can veto it, meaning there must be a unanimous decision.

The premise of Ghostbusters III is that the original team returns to train a new, younger one. Columbia wants the three actors to be involved so they can pass the torch, but they aren't so keen on Reitman. According to the same sources, the studio is hoping to bring on Marc Webb.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Gen Con Announces Pajama Program as Charity

INDIANAPOLIS - (March 19, 2010) Each year, Gen Con LLC chooses one charity for which funds are raised during the four-day event where thousands of gaming fans gather. This year, Gen Con is pleased to announce it has selected the Pajama Program, which provides new pajamas and books to children in need. Last year Gen Con raised $13,000 for the Indiana Math and Science Academy (IMSA) and looks forward to another successful fund-raising year, as Gen Con celebrates its 43^rd event, August 5-8^th in Indianapolis.

"The Pajama Program is a wonderful organization that provides much needed help for so many children," said Adrian Swartout, CEO of Gen Con. "We will be working closely with the Indianapolis chapter to raise awareness and funds for them throughout the show. We thank our attendees who raise thousands of dollars each year for the charity we support."

During Gen Con, funds for the charity will be raised in a variety of ways, many of which have been running for years. 100% of the proceeds from the Ace of Aces IX, Cardhalla XII, and the Charity Auction (excluding the Gygax items) will go directly to the Pajama Project. In addition, attendees can look forward to other events to help the charity including a "Pajama Jammy Jam" dance, and tie-ins with local Indianapolis businesses. You can learn more here.

Besides the Pajama Program, Gen Con is supporting several other charitable groups at Gen Con Indy 2010:

• Personal items belonging to Gary Gygax are being donated to raise money for his memorial fund. The donated items will be auctioned-off with portions of the proceeds going to The Gygax Memorial Fund.
• Visit the Gamers for Humanity booth in the Exhibit Hall to help out others and have fun along the way. Gamers For Humanity is a non-profit, dedicated to helping improve the world by organizing volunteer opportunities and collecting donated funds and items to be distributed to people in need. In 2009, the group collected old cards and games from attendees and other exhibitors and put them to good use.
• Also exhibiting are the Skeptical Gamers, a group organizing a fundraiser to benefit the Indiana Immunization Coalition. Beyond collecting donations, the group will share information from their booth in the Family Fun Pavilion.
  

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Panelcraft: Robin Knows Spidey's Secret ID

This is great! This one predates even my tired, old ass by a good three-four years, so I would have had no idea about this, and I guess it flew under many experts' radars, because this is the first time I've ever heard anything about it, but the hip cats over to RETROcrush dug-up a panel from a back-up story featuring Robin in Batman #277 (1971) in which The Boy Hostage offers-up one Peter Parker's photography services to a rather unsurly editor.

This was a story which, according to the text, is included in what passes for DC's "continuity," which means that Robin apparently did know Spider-Man's secret identity. However, the most probable theory proffered by the writer is that (#2) Marvel Comics exist as comic books (fiction) in the DC Universe. Why is this the most likely rationale for this? Because they exist as fiction in the Marvel Universe.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am a New Avenger

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Chris Evans to Wield the Shield?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios has offered Chris Evans the role of Captain America. Evans is already a Marvel alum, having played Johnny Storm in two Fantastic Four flicks, but his schedule may not allow him to take the role of the shield-wielding Avenger, as he is already committed to a romantic-comedy opposite actress, Anna Farris, entitled What's Your Number? Marvel has neither confirmed nor denied this report.

Whomever takes the role would likely be signed to a full franchise of at least three Captain America movies, as well as at least the first Avengers flick, and guest-appearances in sundry other, Marvel superhero films. However, both films are set to begin shooting this summer, so Evans' involvement, even if confirmed, may not happen.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Dr. Horrible 2 - The Motion Picture

Neil Patrick Harris told MTV the sequel to Doctor Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog is a go, but not online, and not for free; it is going to be a major, motion picture. Harris said he didn't know the intended scale of the project, though he agreed that too large a budget would defeat the purpose of the first project, which was made in five days without a budget. "Then again," he said, "You don't want it to be so low-brow that it's not worth paying money to see as a movie."

Neil Patrick Harris was also quick to say he was really only guessing. The biggest impedance to the sequel at this point is scheduling, as all of the principals are busy with their own projects (Castle, How I Met Your Mother, The Guild).

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Amazing Spider-Man #628 - Variant

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Rob Zombie Returns to Image, Still Owes Me $5 for '1000 Corpses'

Berkeley, CA - 15 March 2010 - Is there anything ROB ZOMBIE can't do? [See House of 1000 Corpses - well, better yet, don't! - ed.] From music to television to movies, Zombie has proven himself to be a boundary-jumping entertainment juggernaut. In May, he returns to conquer comics with ROB ZOMBIE PRESENTS: WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BARON VON SHOCK? Zombie has concocted a delightfully depressing tale about the seduction of celebrity culture and its pitfalls. BARON VON SHOCK is illustrated by DONNY HADIWIDJAJA and VAL STAPLES, and published by Image Comics.

"This comic venture is very, very different in tone for me. Instead of a crazy over-the-top monster-fest like El Superbeasto, I wanted to create something that works more on a slice-of-life human level." states Zombie, "After El Superbeasto became a movie, I felt I had taken that style as far as I could. So, I really needed Baron Von Shock to be something fresh in writing and in art."

"After publishing THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO, we jumped at the chance to work with Rob again on BARON VON SHOCK," says Image Publisher, Eric Stephenson. "Baron Von Shock is darkly humorous, thrilling, and uncompromising - everything fans expect a Rob Zombie story to be."

In BARON VON SHOCK, Rob Zombie returns to comics with a dark dramedy describing the fantastic rise, and spiraling decent, of celebrity. Being in the right place at the right time isn't always a good thing, as Leon Stokes, aka Baron Von Shock, finds out first-hand. His sudden rise to fame as a local television horror host meets with unexpected results. BARON VON SHOCK proves to be a roller coaster of emotion only Rob Zombie can deliver.

BARON VON SHOCK #1 (MAR100391), a 32-page full color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores May 26, 2010. Also available: ROB ZOMIE PRESENTS THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO (MAR071825).

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Guardians of the Globe

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Reagan, Limbaugh - Political Power

From movie star to charismatic leader of the free world, the life of Ronald Reagan is the next featured biography in Bluewater Productions’ Political Power comic series. The issue releases on Wednesday.

Considered by many to be either one of the United States’ greatest presidents and father of the neo-conservative movement or an out-of–touch figurehead, Reagan’s legacy still sparks debate 20-plus years after leaving office.

Political Power: Ronald Reagan, scheduled for release on June 6^th, examines Reagan’s eventful life from radio broadcaster to B-movie actor to California governor to President, and includes his dignified fight against Alzheimer’s disease in later years. Written by Don Smith and drawn by Heath Foley.

“Reaganomics, the assassination attempt, 'Star Wars,' the air-traffic controllers strike, Iran-Contra, and, of course, the collapse of the 'evil empire' Soviet Union - wherever you may fall on the political spectrum, you must agree that Reagan’s time in office had a profound and lasting influence on the country,” said Bluewater president Darren Davis.

Writer Don Smith adds “I think the crux of the book will be the assessment of whether Reagan was simply at the right place and time when the Soviet Union fell or [if] he was one of the shrewdest occupants of the White House.”

Additionally, Bluewater announced that conservative pundit and radio show host Rush Limbaugh will soon step onto the pages of Political Power. Scheduled for an April release, the issue follows Limbaugh’s career as a Top 40 radio disc jockey and staffer on a major league baseball team through his rise as the soul of the conservative movement on his popular nationally syndicated radio program.

“The book won’t shy away from Limbaugh’s colorful and sometimes controversial past,” Davis said, “In fact they add dimension and depth as to how he formed his philosophy and how he continues to influence the political and social landscape.”

Political Power, launched this past July with a feature on former-Secretary of State and retired four-star general, Colin Powell, has presented such unauthorized biographies as Barack Obama, Joe Biden, George W. Bush, Al Gore, and several others.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

I Am a New Avenger

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Buffy's Xander Tased by LAPD

According to police reports, authorities responded to a disturbance call around midnight last night and came upon former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, Nicholas Brendon (Xander), who attempted to elude. The LAPD said they were forced to tase the bro to stop him. Brendon was booked at 6:15a and remains in jail on a $20,000 bond. He was charged with defacement of property which is said to have occurred during his attempted escape.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010